Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics Post Employment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts two-year contracting ban for senior city officials, with waiver process
Summary
Council approved an ordinance restricting certain former senior municipal employees from contracting with the city for two years after leaving employment; the rule applies to the city manager, deputy city manager, city attorney and department heads and includes a waiver process that the council may grant by vote.
The Palm Bay City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025‑27, creating post‑employment restrictions on certain former municipal employees and standards of conduct. Deputy Mayor Jaffe sponsored the measure and council approved it after staff clarified the scope and waiver mechanics.
Under the ordinance, the post‑employment restriction applies to the city manager; deputy city manager; city attorney and deputy city attorneys; city clerk and deputy city clerk; city engineer; and department heads. The rule bars those former employees from contracting with or receiving city contracts for two years after leaving city employment.
City Attorney’s Office language included a waiver process: the city council may grant a waiver by majority vote during a public meeting when the former employee or vendor submits a written request with the former role, the new role and justification showing the award is in the city’s best interest. Council members debated the potential for unintended consequences and asked that the rule be limited to senior positions; staff confirmed the ordinance was revised to target those senior roles.
Deputy Mayor Jaffe said the change responds to concerns about former city managers or directors later providing consultant services that exploit municipal knowledge of procurement and budgets. Councilman Lansford suggested a supermajority for waivers; the final ordinance leaves waiver approval to a council majority but requires written justification be presented to the public.
The ordinance takes effect on adoption. Council also directed that the policy be applied consistent with existing restrictions that govern former council members.
